Elise S.'s blog

Title to be discussed: Selections from The Signet Classic Book of Southern Short Stories. Time of meeting: Monday, January 7, 6:30 pm. About the book: This collection includes thirty-three stories of the American South from such literary luminaries as Edgar Allan Poe, Alice Walker, Kate Chopin, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Eudora Welty, Truman Capote,

Please join us to discuss the three stories by Truman Capote included in the book A Christmas Memory. Time of meeting: Monday, December 3, at 6:30 pm. Summary: Three short stories describe a boy's relationship with his elderly cousin and alcoholic father and the indelible holiday memories they provided him.

Title to be discussed: A Dish Taken Cold, by Anne Perry. Time of meeting: Monday, November 5, at 6:30 pm. Summary: Edgar Award-winning novelist Anne Perry turns her unerring historical eye to Paris 1792. Revolution is yielding to the Terror, and the city is hungry--for justice, for vengeance, for bread. So, too, is Celie Deleure, a servant in the household of the celebrated Madame de Stael, when her infant son suffers an inexplicable dea

Do you know someone who wants to learn English? Next month Baldwin Boettcher will begin a brand new ESL class for adults who speak little or no English. The new class will meet on Thursdays from 1 to 3 pm, starting on October 11. As with all library programs, this class is free. Those interested are encouraged to drop by the library to fill out a student contact form, but pre-registration is not necessary. For more information, please contact Cindy at the library (281-821-1320). Photo credit: Baldwin Boettcher Branch photo

People across greater Houston are reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer. This acclaimed novel is the 2012 choice for Gulf Coast Reads, a series of programs aiming to get Houstonians on the same page for enlightening discussions of a single book.

Join us next Thursday, September 13, for our Second Annual Hat Day, an all-day celebration of the fashionable and purposeful hat, in honor of Reference Librarian Cindy Groover (aka The Hat Lady). We will be giving out prizes throughout the day for the most imaginative and most interesting hats worn by ladies, gentlemen, and children of all ages, so dig deep in your closet to find those treasures of yesteryear. This is the one day of the year that you will see every staff member in a hat, so plan to visit Baldwin Boettcher Branch next Thursday and let&

It may not be possible to take a real vacation this summer, but if you’re weary of the Texas heat and humidity, you can plan your dream trip -- and find some stress relief and mental escape -- all without leaving home or even spending a dime. Here are some audiobooks that will send you magically elsewhere while you are coping with Houston traffic on a 99-degree afternoon.

Please join us for this special book discussion celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Title to be discussed: Conquistadora, by Esmeralda Santiago. Time of meeting: Monday, September 10, at 6:30 pm. Summary: Even as a young girl in nineteenth-century Spain, Ana Cubillas is drawn to the exotic island of Puerto Rico by the diaries of an ancestor who traveled there with Ponce de Leon. And in twin brothers Ramon and Inocente -- both in love with Ana -- s

Boston, 1868. An inexplicable force causes ships’ instruments to stop working, causing chaos in Boston Harbor. Even more baffling, in the city’s business district a sinister phenomenon causes glass to liquefy, killing citizens and resulting in fear, panic and economic havoc. This strange case is beyond the expertise of the police, but some fearless students in the first class of the newly formed Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- the technologists -- take on the challenge, hoping to score a victory against rival Harvard.

Information for Persons with Disabilities: Harris County Public Library will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who are interested in attending library programs. To make a request for yourself or someone you know, please notify the Branch Librarian two working days in advance of the program.